The holiday season is known both for festivities and for generating a fair bit of extra trash and recycling. The average household produces up to 25% more waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. This is about 25 million tons! Let’s keep the season merry and our community clean by sorting smart and reducing waste where we can!
DO: Recycle Smart
Holiday items that can be recycled include:
• Simple, paper gift wrap. To confirm that wrapping paper is recyclable, you can do a “scrunch test” by squeezing it into a ball. If the ball generally keeps its shape, then it can be recycled. If it springs back and tries to spread out, then it cannot.
• Plan tissue paper, plain paper gift bags, and plain holiday cards.
• Cardboard boxes (ok to leave tape and labels on).
DON’T: Contaminate Your Recycling
Recycling contamination can send entire truckloads to the landfill. Please keep these common holiday items out of your recycling cart:
• Envelopes with plastic padding (even if the outside is paper).
• Wrapping paper, tissue paper, or gift bags with sparkles, glitter, sequins, foil, artificial texture, sticky gift labels, or plastic coating, excessive tape, ribbons, or bows still attached.
• Bubble wrap, plastic “air pillows,” and packing peanuts.
• Plastic gift cards and any plastic not shaped like a bottle or round tub.
• Holiday cards if they are glittery, metallic, on photo paper, or have sticky labels.
• String lights, ribbon, yarn, and cords – these are called “tanglers” because they get tangled in the machines and can cause the whole process to shut down.
• Old batteries and electronics do not belong in household garbage or recycling bins! They need to be taken to an electronics disposal center, like Republic Services in Wilsonville (Free, 10295 SW Ridder Road, Monday -Friday 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.).
REDUCE AND REUSE
The best way to cut down on waste is to avoid creating it in the first place!
• Rethink wrapping: Wrap in pieces of fabric and ribbon that can be used over and over, save and reuse gift bags, or wrap in newspaper or paper grocery bags.
• Shop smart: Choose gifts with minimal packaging or made from recycled materials.
• Donate before discarding: Toys, clothes, and decorations in good condition can bring joy to someone else.
• Shop second hand: Check out shops and stores specializing in donated items. Or try sites like Facebook Marketplace or NextDoor to shop secondhand locally.
HOW TO DISPOSE OF TREES
Post-holiday trees should never be discarded on the curb or thrown out into wild or wooded areas. Please remove all adornments and dispose of your holiday trees responsibly!
Drop Off (real/live trees):
• Grimm’s Fuel Company for a $5.00 disposal fee (18850 SW Cipole Rd, Tualatin, OR 97062)
Curbside (real/live trees):
• Tualatin Boy Scout Troop 530 will be collecting curbside from Tualatin homes that have registered for pickup on December 27th and January 3rd. Suggested donation is $20. No flocked trees. Visit tualatinscouting.org for more information.
• Republic Services will collect trees 6ft tall or less. Trees can be cut up into 3ft sections and placed in the yard debris bin (lid must close). Trees can be placed curbside next to the yard debris bin for an additional charge of $11.63. These pickups must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance of your normal garbage collection day. Please call 503-981-1278 to schedule.
Artificial Trees
• Consider donating if still in good condition. Otherwise, please remove all adornments and take to a garbage collection center or leave curbside for pickup (call Republic Services ahead of time to schedule pickup, additional fee applies).
Other Greenery
• Real/live wreaths, garland, and plants can be put into the yard debris bin once they are free from all decorations.
• Fake or flocked greenery is always garbage.
STRING LIGHTS
• Curbside: For regular or mini lights, place entire string in garbage. For larger lights, remove and trash bulbs and then place string in the garbage.
• Drop off: For mini or regular lights, bring intact strings to Pride Disposal and Recycling (13980 SW Tualatin-Sherwood Rd). For larger lights, remove bulbs and bring the string portion to Pride Disposal.
BATTERIES
• Discarded batteries can spark and cause fires when not handled properly, creating dangerous situations for garbage and recycling truck drivers, processing facilities, and our communities. Customers with a glass recycling bin can include one clear zip-top quart-sized bag of batteries per week for pickup. However, if batteries aren’t prepared properly – or the bag includes unacceptable types – the bag won’t be picked up. Follow these three important steps below to safely recycle/dispose of batteries in your glass bin:
1. Put a piece of clear (like Scotch) tape over both ends of all batteries except alkaline. This helps prevent battery fires. Not sure what kind it is? Tape it.
2. Place batteries in a clear, 1-quart, zip-top plastic bag. Zip closed.
3. Set the sealed bag of batteries on top of any glass in your glass bin and set on the curb.
Batteries accepted:
• Alkaline (ex: AAA, AA, D, etc.)
• 6-volt and 9-volt
• Button cell
• Rechargeable
• Lithium
• Laptop and cell phone
Batteries NOT accepted:
• Batteries that do not fit in the 1-quart bag
• Battery back-up (UPS) units
• Lead-acid batteries (ex. vehicle batteries)
• Batteries that are corroded
EXTRA GARBAGE
Curbside:
• For Republic Services customers with a standard 35-gallon garbage bin, extra garbage bags can be tied neatly and placed next to (but not touching) the curbside bin. Extra garbage will be assessed an additional charge of $6.40 per bag.
Drop Off:
Extra Garbage:
• Metro South Transfer Station (2001 Washington St., Oregon City) daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Charges apply.
Bulky or Hazardous Waste
• Consider donating bulky waste that is in good condition (ex: furniture). Call 503-234-3000 to find donation organizations, drop-off locations, and pickup options.
EXTRA RECYCLING
Drop off:
• Republic Services (10295 SW Ridder Rd., Wilsonville) Monday -Friday 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.
• Metro South Transfer Station (2001 Washington St., Oregon City) daily from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Many recycling items are accepted for free.
Curbside
• Recycle+: Wondering what to do with plastic clamshells, plastic bags, old fabrics/textiles, lightbulbs, and other things that can’t be included in your regular recycling bin? Consider signing up for the Recycle+ program for “hard-to-recycle” items. Recycle+ is an OPTIONAL program, so interested customers need to contact Republic Services (503-981-1278) for more information.
